Archive for May 2012

In February 2012, The Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies, which describes itself as “a non-partisan and independent institute, [that] seeks to contribute to the advancement of Middle East peace and security by conducting policy-relevant research on strategic subjects, particularly as they relate to the national security and foreign policy of Israel,” published a policy study on “The 2011 Arab Uprisings and Israel’s National Security.” In a section entitled “Forging Strategic Alliances,” BESA Director Prof. Efraim Inbar offers an interesting insight into the Center’s views on Washington’s role in advancing an Israel-centric regional “peace and security”:

Despite the decline of American influence in the Middle East, Israel has no choice but to continue to nurture its strategic partnership with the US. The US is likely to remain the dominant global power for a long time, and its decline in the Middle East is probably temporary. The shared values of the two countries and the large and stable support for the Jewish state in American society makes this country the best possible ally. Israel’s foreign policy should adapt to the differences of opinion and even conflict of interests between a large power and its small ally in such a way as to assure continued American friendship and support. In the final analysis, the developments in Washington are much more important for Jerusalem than those in the region.

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One of the reasons given to justify House Resolution 4133, also known as the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012, was the increased regional instability and threat of radical Islam created by the so-called “Arab Spring.” According to the text of H.R. 4133 referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on May 10, Congress found that:

The Middle East is undergoing rapid change, bringing with it hope for an expansion of democracy but also great challenges to the national security of the United States and our allies in the region, particularly our most important ally in the region, Israel. The past year has witnessed the fall of some regimes long considered to be pillars of stability in the Middle East and a rise in the influence of radical Islamists throughout the region.

However, a leading academic institute which has “a strong association with the political and military establishment” of that “most important ally” seems less perturbed than the resolution’s pro-Israel sponsors by the “rapid change” in its geostrategic environment. In March 2012, The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) published One Year of the Arab Spring: Global and Regional Implications, a memorandum “with special reference to the potential ramifications for Israeli national security.” In the final essay entitled “Israeli Responses to the Arab Spring,” Mark A. Heller, principal research associate at INSS, observes:

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This video by Anthony Lawson looks at a CNN documentary (April, 2012 with repeats) about the Iran nuclear issue, and examines the role of the mainstream media in keeping the public uninformed about the real problem-nation in the Middle East: Nuclear-armed, Apartheid Israel.

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When we look at all the things that the Israel Lobby has been up to, we sometimes lose sight of the big picture. There has been a virtual flood of action by Congress to help Israel, much of it moving very much under the radar with no real debate and suspensions of rules to expedite the voting. Look at what has happened in the past month: HR 4133 passes through Congress on a 411 to 2 vote giving Israel a virtual blank check on the US Treasury and requiring the White House to prepare an annual report demonstrating how the Administration has guaranteed the Israeli military’s “qualitative edge” over its neighbors. It also provided military equipment — refueling tankers and bunker buster bombs — that can only be used for an attack on Iran. Only Ron Paul spoke out against the bill and even Justin Amash, a Palestinian American and Ron Paul supporter, voted yes, explaining “Our national defense benefits from Israel’s ability to defend itself and to serve as a check against neighboring authoritarian regimes and extremists.” According to Amash, it is constitutional to pay for Israel’s defense because of “Congress’s power to raise and support armies.” The Founders were not thinking of foreign armies to be sure, so Justin had better check on what he has been drinking from the House of Representatives water cooler. A few days later, $1 billion appeared in the 2013 Defense Appropriation Bill to fund Israel’s Iron Dome defense system — something that had been recommended in 4133. No coincidence there.

In an intriguing Haaretz article entitled “Russia and Israel: The unexpected alliance,” Adar Primor comments on two recent analyses which suggest that such an alliance may be on the cards:

Prof. Mark Katz of Virginia’s George Mason University recently wrote a piece entitled “What would a democratic Russian foreign policy look like?” in the New Zealand International Review. He concludes that Russia’s foreign policy wouldn’t change substantially, with two exceptions: China and the Middle East.

Katz expects a significant warming of relations between Moscow and Jerusalem, for several reasons: Israel has become an important source of military technology for Russia, both countries are concerned about radical Islam, and extensive cultural, trade and tourism links have been forged.

Fyodor Lukyanov, a veteran Russian commentator, wrote a piece in response to Katz entitled, “Is Israel on the way to becoming a Russian ally?” In the article for Russia Today, Lukyanov sees no reason to wait for a democratic Russia to support Katz’s assumption.

In its tendentious report on the heckling of Sen. John McCain during a Memorial Day speech in San Diego, The Raw Story smears patriotic Americans who know the facts about Israel’s deliberate June 8, 1967 attack on the USS Liberty as “conspiracy theorists.” In order to discredit James Morris’ very public raising of the McCain family’s subsequent involvement in the incident, David Edwards explains:

Conspiracy theorists have long accused McCain and his father, Admiral John S. McCain Jr., of participating in a cover up regarding the USS Liberty.

A little research, however, would have shown that on January 9, 2004, Captain Ward Boston, Jr., USN (Ret.), Senior Counsel to the USS Liberty Court of Inquiry, made the following sworn affidavit:

According to a report on azcentral.com, Sen. John McCain’s political legacy is set to be preserved with a high-profile new institute:

“The charge of the McCain Institute for International Leadership fits in perfectly with Arizona State University’s core mission of having a significant positive impact on the larger community, and we are grateful to Senator McCain for his support of this important university endeavor,” ASU President Michael Crow said in a written statement. “It will be guided by the values that have animated the career of Senator McCain — a commitment to sustaining America’s global leadership role, promoting freedom, democracy and human rights, as well as maintaining a strong, smart national defense.”

Sen. McCain, whose political career was a product of organized crime, deserves to be remembered for his longstanding service on Capitol Hill, especially for his supporting role to Sen. Joe Lieberman in promoting American involvement in wars for Israel.

Update: For those who still believe that there is any significant difference between “conservatives” like McCain and “liberals” or “progressives” in what passes for mainstream American political discourse, Steve Clemons’ puff piece for the McCain Institute offers a salutary corrective. Clemons, who describes himself as a “progressive realist,” writes on his Washington Note blog: